Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-22

branch than was the case on similar fig
trees not caprifed and growing far from the
capri fig. He counted fifty figs fallen from
aColombro in June, and five only contained
no insect. In the fallen fruit from the
Dottato tree he did not'find one which had
not the fly, but among the permanent
ones some had the insect, some had not.
Then experiments We're made IN different
localities on four varieties of figs, and the
conclusion he draws is that the capritied
trees lose great quantity of their figs and
next, that those not caprified ripen many
of theirs. Certain fig trees usually bring
many early figs to maturity, and but few
of the late ones, and cultivators affirmed
that by capritcation a second crop could
be obtsiued In the beginning of July he
gave the capri fig to several such trees.
Many lost all their figs by the middle of
August. Some retained a few, but had
Jared like other trees of some sort not cap
rifed. Among the fallen fruit, some con-
tanned the insect, some did not. The trees
were all of the same age, in the same soil,
and had the same exposure. and had
brought to maturity an early crop.
3. Does caprification hasten the matur-
ity of the ig?" He made The following
experiment upon two trees of equal vigor,
standing two stone throws apart. To one
of them at the end of June he hung the
flower heads of the capri fig and counted
the fruit on each tree. In September there
was no difference. Counting again there
was no difference. each tree having lost
about one-fourth of the fruit. In the fol-
lowing year the experiment was modified.
He marked with thread the figs into which
the fly had penetrated, and took care that
there was no capri fig in the vicinity of the
oil The rac,tIf Of ba 1a,Nt
was the same as that OF the preceding year
lie hung five flower heads of the capri fig
to large branch of Lardaro fig which
rose high above the rest of the trees, think
ing that if maturity was FASTENED, how
ever slight, it would be perceived. Yet the
fruit on the other branches was the same as
that on this branch. These experiments
were repeated four years in different local.
ties and in no case did caprificatien hasten
maturity.
4. Does the fly cause the setting and
early maturity by the punctures il makes ?'
He believes that the insect never pierces
the mouth or any other part for looking
with attention he observed il making its
way from scale to scale, and the micro
scope revealed the fact that the scales
showed no injury. He,thinks that it does
not pierce the ovary, as it does not prevent
the formation of the embryo, and the diff
ference between the fig and the capri fig is
very great.
5. His memoir then recites his observa-
ton of fallen figs, and states that if the in
sect has penetrated the domestic fig it can
be known at once by opening it, though
sometimes that is not necessary. as the fly
leaves outside its wings and part of its
body. If it, however reaches the inside of
the fig below the scales, it does not easily
decay, but remains until the fig shows
signs of maturity. But whenever the in
sect dies the surrounding part turns brown.
Hence a glance can tell with certainty
whether a tly has been in the fig. Now,
every variety of fig sheds a certain number
of its fruit, and in the opinion of those
who practice caprifcatiop, the tree would
lose all or most of its fruit without caprifi-
cation. The Professor says: If such
were the case, one would conclude that
what fruits should fall after caprifcation
would be precisely those in which the
fly hal not entered" With this view he
examined all The figs that had fallen from
three varieties. OF one, on July 18th, of 81
figs 30 had the insect; three days after 81
fell, of which 81 had the insect; the re-
mainder were black but no insect was seen.
Aiterward he found 122 with the insect and
III without. On July 24th, of figs fallen
from other trees he found II with the in
sect and p without. On the Both he col
lected l6S figs from the base Of branches
and great number from the extremities
OF the first, 66 decaved and contained the
insect, 30 decayed and no insect-probably
had escaped-and 10 without the insect not
altered. On the % of August % had the
fly and % had not August OH, As with
and So without the fly Out of 1913 fallen
figs, Al2 contained the fly and 3S1 did not,
and showed no signs of decay or change.
OF the other tree he examined LIS figs ::
945 contained the fly and 240 did not. In
these cases Ii appears that the effect was
prejudiCial. III another year he examined
the same trees and found the numbers with
and without the insect about equal He
concluded that the fly of the capri fig is
injurious and that it rather causes them TO
fall.
6. He also examined the permanent figs.
will not, as this article is already too long,
state all his observations in this respect but
be content with only one. On the LIST day
of July he suspended capri fig flower heads
to small tree which had on 10 figs In
one month 43 had fallen. On the Nth of
August he gathered the remaining 127.
Having opened them he found them sound,
with good seeds; 30 contained the fly,
which had done no injury to the florets.
The facts noted he states, prove clearly
that il is not by the effect of the insect that
the fruit remains on the tree. as the greater
number of those which were the soundest
and most vigorous did not contain it. The
conclusions that the professor draws are:
1. That the capri fig is not the male of
the domestic fig, as has been believed, but
so different from it that it may be taken as
the type of distinct genus.
9. The structure of domestic figs, as well
as those to which the capri fig is applied,
as of others is perfectly similar, so that 1t
does not appear how the insect of the capri
fig can be necessary to some varieties only.
That. is to say, the Smyrna fig in structure
is identical with all other figs cultivated in
this State, and if they mature here there is
no reason to say that caprifcation is neces-
sary for the Smyrna when it is not for all
other kinds.
8. That the insects neither hasten the
maturity nor cause the fruit to set, nor are
they necessary for formulation.
A. That the tendency OF some figs to fall
is admitted, but the causes must be sought
in mode of vegetation, soil, climate, etc.
s. That caprifcation is useless for the
setting and ripening of fruit, and that the
custom deteriorates the flavor of the fig
and ought to be abolished.
This memoir was translated, and may
be found in the third volume of the journal
of the Horticultural Society of London,
published as long ago as 1916.
AS the question of application is every
now and then alluded to and doubt eX-
pressed whether we can raise the Smyrna
fig in this State, | think it well to settle it
at once, otherwise some enterprising per-
son may be prevented from importing
cuttings from Smyrna, or those who have
the Bulletin fig growing may, in a moment
of Encouragement, cut down their trees.
1t would be of great benefit il. some one ac-
quainted with the Italian language would
procure the essay, translate it, and publish
it. Fig culture is destined to be one of the
five leading horticultural pursuits of the
State, and very little is known about it.
Such translation, accompanied with some
practical remarks nv some grower who